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发表于 2009-5-29 19:43:56
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issue 8
Is it often necessary, even desirable, for political leaders to withhold information from the public? To be sure, whether withhold information or not depends on different situation.However, no matter how compelling reason showed, to withhold information from the public is to sacrifice people's right to know the truth, therefore, careful consideration should be given before any action.
Admittedly, withholding information from the public properly could bring more benefits than harms both individual and nation. For instance, if one successful political leader could always be confident and competent under the spotlight, it would help him to retain his prestige and administer national fairs more smoothly and effectively. In contrast, one political leader who deliberately expose his some flaws or eccentric preference that have no connection with his competence in politics to the public would probably win unnecessary antipathy from people, which exert negative influence on his work. When it comes to national interests, one film named Assembly can illustrate the significance of withholding information. The story happened during the World War Two that 47 soldiers took the responsibility to cover the troop's withdrawal and also were told to withdraw if heard the bugle for assembly. But the voice of bugle never closed to them, because the leader decided to protect the main force at the expense of these soldiers finally. Such withholding information is based on the premise that national interests come before everything else, which is cruel, but desirable.
Unfortunately, political leaders sometimes withhold information from the public in the name of maintaining social stability that deviate from the original purpose. In the last century, China underwent a series of reform led by Den Xiaoping, which was notable in the rapid growth of national economic and the policy of opening to the outside world. Nevertheless, leaders neglected the importance of reforming political system and still ruled the country by withholding information from the public despite people's demand for democracy. On June 4, 1989, thousands of students and workers who had stayed at Tiananmen Square for several days conflicted with the army, resulting in an unforgettable and unforgivable tragedy finally. From then on, China began to set foot on the path of reforming political system, althought we still have a long way to go, but both government and people are aware of the paramount importance of mutual trust and respect, which is the most meaningful thing we learn from this tragedy.
Government and its officers elected by people directly or indirectly should make every effort to represent the benefits of people and satisfy their reasonable demand. The most effective way is to let people know that what government can do and what government can not do. Only in this way are people willing to cooperate with government to realize the mutual goal they believe in .On the contrary, if government wished to win the favorable impression of people barely by making presumptuous promises and withholding information to hide their incompetence, it would only lead to the catastrophe of the whole society and nation. In sum, withholding information appropriately by political leaders is necessary even desirble, but please think twice before doing it. |
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